Latest News
British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing
British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.
The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.
In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.
But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.
The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.
The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.
Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.
“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.
“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.
“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.
“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”
The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.
In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.
As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.
Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.
Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.
The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.
Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.
The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.
The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.
Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.
In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.
Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.
Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.
Advisory
Brazilian Amilton Noble announced as Advisory Partner at Betshield
Betshield has announced the arrival of Amilton Noble as Advisory Partner.
The executive joins the company’s strategic core at a time of increased operational demands for licensed operators in the Brazilian betting market.
The move comes alongside a significant shift in how the sector is being evaluated.
Beyond regulatory compliance, recent court decisions have begun to consider not only the existence of formal user-protection policies, but also the platforms’ ability to demonstrate continuous monitoring and preventive action in response to risky behavior.
The evolution toward the “Trust & Protection” concept
Recognized for its pioneering role in Responsible Gaming technology, Betshield is following this evolution by expanding its presence within iGaming operations.
The company is structuring its proposition as a permanent layer of operational trust and protection, incorporating:
- Risk management
- Internal controls
- Ability to demonstrate due diligence
Leadership and experience
Amilton Noble has a consolidated career in the gaming, lottery and iGaming industries.
As Advisory Partner, he will contribute to the company’s institutional positioning and to the consolidation of more structured operational practices in the regulated environment.
According to Noble, the sector is entering a new stage of maturity:
“Market maturity depends on the ability to demonstrate diligence. This is no longer just a licensing discussion, but one of operational responsibility.
Operators will need to present evidence of monitoring and preventive action. Technology becomes part of the company’s own protection.”
A new market positioning
Thiago Iusim, founder and CEO of Betshield, states that the moment represents an evolution in positioning:
“Responsible Gaming has always been our starting point. But we quickly realized it was necessary to go beyond isolated functionality.
The market began to require the ability to demonstrate operational diligence. We structured the Trust & Protection concept: a permanent layer between operator, regulator and user.”
Betshield’s technology performs continuous behavioral monitoring, identifies risk patterns, and generates a documented history of preventive actions.
The platform has also incorporated an anti-money laundering (AML) module, expanding the scope of protection.
Recently, Betshield also announced a strategic partnership with CGS Events, placing player protection as a central theme of the 2026 events agenda.
Who is Amilton Noble
With more than 30 years of experience in gaming, betting, and lotteries, Amilton Noble has built a career closely tied to product design, operational models, and distribution strategies within the Brazilian lottery sector.
He began his career at the Brazilian Jockey Club, where he served as National Betting Manager and oversaw pari-mutuel horse-racing wagering operations.
Starting in 2001, at Hebara, he led the commercial area of Raspadinha do Rio and was responsible for developing products that became market benchmarks.
He also works as a strategic consultant for national and international gaming, iGaming, and lottery companies, focusing on regulation, payout structure, and the economic sustainability of operating models.
His work combines practical experience, critical analysis, and direct involvement in the sector’s evolution.
The post Brazilian Amilton Noble announced as Advisory Partner at Betshield appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Cheltenham Festival
Richard Johnson and Hayley Moore to join Press Box PR’s Cheltenham Festival preview event in Gibraltar
Two-time Gold Cup-winning jockey Richard Johnson and Sky Sports Racing presenter Hayley Moore will headline a Cheltenham Festival Preview evening hosted by Press Box PR in Gibraltar next month.
Taking place on Thursday, March 5, at Ivy Sports Bar & American Grill in Ocean Village, the event will bring together professionals from across the gambling and racing industries for an exclusive preview of the Cheltenham Festival 2026, which begins on March 10.
Johnson, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished jump jockeys of his era, will share expert insight into the key races, leading contenders, and the demands of competing on racing’s biggest stage. He will be joined by Moore, who will offer analysis of the major storylines, form trends, and narratives shaping this year’s Festival.
The evening will be hosted by racing presenter and writer Kitty Waddell, who will moderate the discussion and lead a live audience Q&A with the panel.
Guests attending the event can expect:
• Detailed previews and tips for the Festival’s headline races
• Behind-the-scenes insights from Johnson’s career at the top level of jump racing
• Expert commentary from Moore on form, trends, and key contenders
• A live Q&A session with the panel
• Networking opportunities alongside complimentary food and drinks
Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes during the evening.
With offices in London and Manchester, Press Box PR — winner at the European iGaming Awards 2026 — is a PR agency specialising in securing media coverage across iGaming, sport, consumer, finance, hospitality, and catering sectors. The agency also supports brands in achieving visibility within AI citations and LLM-driven recommendations.
Jack Mansell, Managing Director of Sport at Press Box PR, said:
“The Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the jump racing calendar and a huge moment for many of the brands we work with across betting and gaming. We wanted to create an event that gives industry colleagues genuine insight from people who have competed at – and covered – the very highest level of the sport.
“Richard and Hayley bring an incredible depth of knowledge and experience, and we’re looking forward to welcoming clients, partners and friends of the industry for what should be an entertaining and informative evening in Gibraltar.”
The Cheltenham Festival Preview will run from 7pm to 10pm on Thursday, March 5, at Ivy Sports Bar & American Grill, Ocean Village, Gibraltar.
Industry professionals wishing to attend are invited to RSVP to [email protected] by Monday, March 2. Guests are asked to confirm numbers and share any dietary requirements when responding. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The post Richard Johnson and Hayley Moore to join Press Box PR’s Cheltenham Festival preview event in Gibraltar appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Audio Description
Brøndby IF Launches Permanent Audio Description Service for Fans Inside and Outside the Stadium
Last night’s clash between Brøndby IF and Sønderjyske in the 3F Superliga became the first match delivered through the club’s new permanent audio description service, designed for fans both in the stadium and at home. Developed in close partnership with the Danish Association of the Blind and main partner Betano, the initiative enables supporters with visual impairments to follow matches more fully from the stands or their living rooms.
Brøndby IF is now the first club in Denmark and across the Nordic region to introduce a permanent audio description service for every home fixture. Available via radio.brondby.com, the service provides real-time spoken narration of on-pitch action, player movement, atmosphere, and key visual moments. A specially trained commentator delivers detailed descriptions to help visually impaired fans experience matches more completely.
Thomas Skov, Marketing Director and Head of Fan Experience at Brøndby IF, said:
“Brøndby IF is a unique community that must be accessible to everyone. Therefore, we must open as many doors as possible into that community. With permanent audio description both at the stadium and for those listening from home, we are taking a very concrete step to make the matchday experience at our home games even more inclusive. As a Brøndby IF fan, you should feel welcome and part of the club’s community no matter what. As a club, we have a strong responsibility to remove barriers that may stand in the way.”
Partnerships in Action
To mark the launch, members of the Danish Association of the Blind attended the home fixture against Sønderjyske, with the initiative receiving strong recognition from the organisation.
Diana Stentoft, National Chair of the Danish Association of the Blind, commented:
“Audio description is about equal access to the community, and it means that even more people can experience football – including those who cannot follow the game visually. Audio description makes a significant difference for blind and visually impaired people, as they are no longer dependent on random radio excerpts or constantly asking others what is happening on the pitch. We are therefore pleased that Brøndby IF is offering audio description at its home matches and thereby improving the opportunity for blind and severely visually impaired fans to follow the club’s games.”
Alongside the Danish Association of the Blind, Betano played a central role in supporting and developing the permanent service. The launch represents the first step in a broader ambition shared by Brøndby IF and Betano to reduce accessibility barriers in football.
Kresten Hougaard, Country Manager for Betano in Denmark, said:
“Inclusion is a key priority for Betano, as we strongly believe that everyone should have equal opportunities to enjoy the game. As the main partner of Brøndby IF, it is important for us to turn our commitments into action. We are proud to have participated in the development of a service that gives fans with visual impairments better access to the full football experience.”
Benefiting All Fans — Beyond the Stadium
The solution at Brøndby Stadium is the first permanent system of its kind in the Nordic region and can be accessed from anywhere.
At the stadium, fans can listen live via their smartphones and headphones through radio.brondby.com. At home, the same commentary can be synchronised with live TV broadcasts, allowing supporters to follow the match in real time from anywhere.
Thomas Skov added:
“The reach of Brøndby IF’s new audio description service extends beyond people with visual impairments. Fans who, for various reasons, are unable to attend the stadium can now follow the match on the go or from home and thereby be part of the club’s community.”
The software powering the service is provided by German technology company Mycrocast, which delivers similar solutions to clubs in the Bundesliga and Ajax Amsterdam.
Lead audio description commentator Selver Elezovic will front coverage of Brøndby IF’s matches. He previously provided commentary for Danish fixtures, including at EURO 2024, and will be joined at Brøndby’s home games by former player Joel Kabongo.
The post Brøndby IF Launches Permanent Audio Description Service for Fans Inside and Outside the Stadium appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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